Chapter Text
Harry found Hagrid outside the bank, The large man was holding a bird cage with a Beautiful snowy owl with golden orbs that seemed too intelligent for a normal owl. " Ah there you are, you get everything sorted" Hagrid smiled down at him.
" Yes, they just wanted to go over a few things " Harry said vaguely, he didn't know if he could trust Hagrid at least not yet. Hagrid didn't push and didn't question why it took two hours with the goblins, he was too excited to show Harry what he got him, plus he had been busy trying to find anyone who was in the market of dragon eggs which he had no luck in finding.
He held the cage up, " got you a little present " he said excited to show him the owl.
" For me?" Harry blinked
He remembered the school supply list had stated to have a familiar, the options had been an owl, cat or toad. Silverclaw had also mentioned sending him a letter through an owl, so this must be how they commutate with each other. He was glad Hagrid went out of his way to buy him an owl, it saved him on having to buy one himself with what little money he had left.
He was going to have to figure out a way of income.
" Thank you, Hagrid, " Harry smiled while admiring the white owl that hooted at him. " Yeah well, it's a birthday gift" Hagrid rubbed the back of his head. " Well let's get going were already running a bit behind " the half giant said and lead him to their next stop which was Olivers wand shop.
Harry frowned looking at the shelves full of wands in boxed cases, " you use wands?" he questioned," well yes, it's what makes us wizards, you need a wand to wield magic" Hagrid told him and that made harry frown deeper.
" You can't just use your hands?" Harry asked as Hagrid paused, " well there's wandless magic but not many can use it, you have to be Relly powerful like Dumbledore to do that kind of magic and even then, it's not much, like the summoning charm some can do without a wand " Hagrid explained.
" What about growing plants?" asked Harry while demonstrating his ability by making small honey suckles grow from thin air, the yellow flowers weaved themselves through a shelf, Hagrid stared in awe, " hm well ant that something, " he said.
" Yes indeed" a voice spoke making both jump and turn to see an old short man with bright blue eyes behind wired glasses " ah yes Harry Potter knew you would soon come" he said in a faraway voice.
" It seems only yesterday you mother was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inch long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." the old man said making Harry eyes widen in surprise.
The man continued "Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it — it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
" It is rare to see someone as young as you perform wandless magic, well the person I " the man trailed off not finishing his sentence " ah it doesn't matter " he turned and plucked a case off the shelf " try this one" he started passing the wand to the boy.
Harry didn't feel anything when the old man told him to give it a swish, " ah not that one " the man took the wand away and replaced it with another, an hour later and still nothing Harry was starting to worry, of course he could do magic without a wand but he wasn't sure if the school would allow him without a wand? he didn't know.
Oliver seemed to get more and more unhinged as he went through wands, a few broken windows and shelves and the man was running into the back pulling out more boxes. " Try this one Holly wood, 11inchs and phoenix feather as its core" the man appeared with another case.
Harry blinked cause unlike the others he could feel something come from this case, like a pull, he reached into the boxed case and the moment his fingers wrapped around the wand suddenly a peach tree started to grow in the middle of the store, and it hurt because it reminded him of Victor.
" Never seen that before? hm" Olver tilted his head in wonder while Hagrid picked a peach off the branch and bit into it " its ripe" he said in surprise while Harry smiled, there was no headache not even a pulsing throb, it had come to him so easy.
He wondered what else he could do with the aid of a wand.
He looked up when something caught his attention, it seemed with the wand in his hand, everything was much clearer and he still felt a pull, similar to this wand, he followed the pull ignoring the other two as he walked into the back of the store until he came to a shelf, there was a role of books that looked like they would fall apart with one touch, the black scaled one caught his eye, he grabbed it and flipped it open.
" Oh, now this is interesting " Oliver said sounding even more giddy just as the pages begin to glow, and a red rose started to grow fully blooming. " A grimoire, a grimoire chose you, no one has used a grimoire in well a thousand years " the old man said eyes wide.
Harry turned around, he still felt a pull, Oliver must have read his mind because he started jumping up and down, " I know that look, you feel it don't you " he said knowing the boy was feeling the pull of wands. It was rare for this to happen; he watched as the boy walked to the other shelf before picking up an old wand that had been made with threstel bone and dog wood.
This time a spider Lilly sprouted from the tip of the wand.
Oliver was surprised; the boy had two wands and a grimoire choose him.
- " Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, but great."
The man continued speaking with a faraway look in his eye that made Harry shiver; there was something about this man that set him on edge.
"I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Mr Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather — just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother — why, its brother gave you that scar."
Harry paid for the one wand while Oliver let him have the other two for free since by his word a once in a lifetime experience. He bought two dragons hide wand holster, one for his arm and the other to strap to his thigh.
After the events in the wand shop the rest of shopping was normal, he got his book, and supplies for potion class, he didn't need a trunk since he had the one from his vault, he stored everything inside the truck and later he would sort it out later. he didn't let Hagrid know about the mini apartment inside the trunk, as far as the man knew it was just a normal trunk that was slightly bigger on the inside.
By the end of the day and he had everything he needed, Hagrid had left him at the bus station, Harry rode the bus until the next stop and from there walked to the familiar park he had been staying in. since he had the trunk he could live inside of it and silverclaw had even warded it to keep intruders out. the trunk already had a few wards placed on it and connected to potter blood. harry had cut his finger and placed his hand on the trunk, the wood absorbed his blood.
It was then he could the magic surrounding the trunk.
Harry found a spot that was well hidden, at least he hopes so, he didn't need someone finding his trunk, night was falling fast making him enter the trunk and close the top, he cut his hand and pressed it to the top and felt the trunk lock.
He didn't know if it would keep a smiling monster out though, so he wouldn't let his guard down.
He sighed and plopped down in one of the cozy red armchairs, the living room was a mess with the stuff he had gotten from the vault and new school supplies. He wasn't planning on sleeping so he would spend the night going organizing everything. He didn't sleep at night, to afraid, Harry went to the kitchen and started making himself dinner.
Dinner was just the left over from the pub he and Hagrid had been in that morning. There was a small round dining room table in the kitchen, he was glad the trunk was already furnished, it saved him the trouble of searching for furniture and each rooms had beds with mattresses. He didn't care if they were used, he was used to it, from living under the Dursley to even the town, the stuff they had was always something that belonged to someone else or was shared.
There was also already a large bird cage in the last bedroom along with everything needed for the snowy owl Hagrid had gotten him, the only thing he had needed to buy for her was food and treats. after dinner he would need to set her cage up so she could have her own space. Right now, she had taken to perching on one of the chairs in the kitchen, the owl watching him with gold eyes as he heated up the leftovers.
He broke off bits of the bread and mixed it in with her bowl of food before placing it across from him.
He still needed to find a name for her.
He finished dinner and quickly got to sorting out his room, he chose the first room on the hall, they all looked the same size, he noticed this one had a built shelve. There were already a few books and nik nats on them, as was the wardrobe full of robes. the bed was a full size and already had sheets and blanket made up, of course matching the theme they were red.
There was a full-size mirror on the other wall along with a vanity dresser and chair that was most likely for a woman, he had seen the girls back at the Connally house have them to store there make up and whatever items they had in them.
He pulled the robes out of the wardrobe and replaced them with his own school robes and normal clothes, after that was done he started to sort and place the most interesting books on the shelf, he put the ones that had been there to the side, he glanced through them and realized they were school book 1 through 7 years.
After an hour and half of sorting books and rearranging the room, he moved what he wasn't going to use to the next bedroom, it would be a storage room for the moment. He smiled at his handy work before moving back to the living room and sorting the potions jars.
He didnt know what the potions were even if they were labeled so he just stored them in the kitchen cabnit until he was able to know more, it was already getting pretty late now and he was growing sleepy, it had to be nearing two in the morning.
He wasnt going to sleep though, not until morning, he busied himself with cleaning, mostly dusting since the place was pretty clean.
After that he finlly sat down in the arm chair, he decided to look through the many books he had, there had to be over a hundred book on the living room shelf, the ones he brought and the ones that were already here. The shelf in his room was also almost full.
He decided to read his school books to pass the time and then head to bed, it was nearing four now, it was almost getting close to morning but it was still so far away. He settled back in his armchair and opened Hogwarts A history.
Harry awoke to the hoots of the snowy owl that he still hadn't given a name yet, Harry groaned and sat up from his spot on the living room floor where he had fallen asleep while reading. He had managed to get halfway through Hogwarts a history before falling asleep at sunrise his body sensing it was safe to sleep.
Harry blinked and looked to the clock on the wall, it was just passing noon, even though he fell asleep at seven when the sun came up and was already getting up was habit. Everyone back in town had odd hours and chores that had to be done before nightfall.
He got up and started on breakfast, the owl following him hooting. " Alright aright on getting you food" he said as her hoots persisted, he grabbed her bowl and filled it with dry food before placing it Infront of her.
Watching her eat and trying to come up with a name, " how about Hedwig?" he said outload remembering a book he read once, the owl looked up at him and seemed to be considering the name before giving a hoot that sounded like approval.
" Hedwig it is " he grinned and sat down across from her, he would need to go shopping at some point, now that he had a proper house slash trunk he could stock up on food.
He planned on turning the last bedroom in to a garden room though, he just needed to clear it out and find some pots and dirt, then he could grow his vegetables. He couldn't grow his fruit trees since there wasn't enough room, but the park he was staying in he had already used his magic to grow a few apple and peach trees and scattered them across the park, he hoped no one pointed them out.
Hagrid had told him that the wizarding world and muggle world were separated.
He planned on going back to the magical village and explore, this time without Hagrid over his shoulder and to get a better feel of this new world he was in. With that in mind he finished his breakfast and grabbed the bottomless bag and along with his wands and grimoire.
The snowy owl hooted and flew out the open trap door; Harry watched her as she glided through the sky, he guessed she needed to stretch her wings, it would be cruel to keep her cooped up in the trunk. He felt she would come back so he wasn't to worried, just hoped she made it back before nightfall.
Harry locked the trunk and covered it with broken bushes and limbs hoping no one would find it while he gone, after that he made his way out of the park and retracing his steps.
Diagon Alley seemed to be even more crowded than before, he noticed a lot of children in the crowds and guessed it must be nearing the start of school, and everyone was racing to finish's school shopping.
Now that his own shopping was done, he could explore, he didn't know where to begin though, there was so much, there was a store that had broomsticks on display and a crowed of children staring in awe.
There were a few books stores, an apophony store, the Gringotts bank standing tall at the end of the street, there was a candy shop and a small inn next to it. Harry walked eying the signs and noticing some of the prices, he would be flat broke if he bought anything without making sure, he had enough to get him through school.
It was then he found himself in a less colorful section of the village, the walls seemed greyer and rundown, no longer the busting crowd of witches and wizards or colorful shops, this alley seemed darker and the people that hovered around seemed to eye him. Harry shivered as he made sure his mask was still on. He thought about turning back but stopped when he came across a store, it was a secondhand store, but the prices were cheaper, he decided to go in and see what they had.
The store was full of stuff, from mirrors to creepy bones on shelves to dozens of books on shelves, he walked around curious. he looked through the books with interest, ' blood magic' he read the title before grabbing it and flipping through it, what caught his interest was the healing spells, maybe it would be useful in the future.
He heard steps behind him and turned to find a boy with white, blonde hair staring at him. He was dressed nicely in green and silver robes, what caught Harry attention was his silver eyes, he had never seen such silver eyes. The closest was Rachel who had blue eyes with a hint of silver. She was an older woman who came to town after leaving her soon to be husband at the alter after getting cold feet.
" What do you have?" the boy asked with a demanding tone, the blonde stepped forward to get a better look at the book title. " Blood magic? that's dark magic" he said, his voice slight snobby.
" So?" Harry frown not sure what the problem was, was there something wrong with dark magic? the book held healing spells and didn't seem harmful, there were some curses and ritual like spells in, but he didn't plan on using them, he was only interested in the healing spells.
The boy frowned as Harry decided to ignore the boy and continue scanning the shelf for anything else. " Where are your parents?" the blonde asked looking around the shop, there was only his father and the shop keeper up front.
" Not here" Harry shrugged and pulled out another book this time it was a book on animal transformation, he flipped through it curious.
Draco had been bored and decided to wonder the shop, his father had been busy negotiating with the shop owner, he wondered to the back looking at the different items on the shelves, he made a face at the scull on one shelf. It was when he turned down to the bookshelves did, he see a boy his age with a book in his hands, Draco grimaced at his state of clothes and hair.
The boy wore those horrid muggle clothes with a cloak over them, the blue jean pants were ripped, and dirty and flannel shirt was oversized, he wore some sort of green sturdy boots, the cloak was plain black with a hood attached to it.
When the boy turned half his face was covered with a black mask, his long black hair was messy with flowers braided into it, the small yellow and purple flowers stuck out at all angles. Draco noticed the boys' ears were pierced, they were mismatched one ear was a rose while the other was a triangle with small green gems.
The boys' emerald eyes landed on him when the boy noticed him, Draco was about to ignore him since he clearly wasn't a pureblood and most likely a muggle born by the looks of it. But he noticed the book in the boys' hands and couldn't help himself.
And now he was here, the boy had the gall to outright ignore him, rude, Draco grits his teeth.
Before draco could respond, the boy turned back around, " you seem to know more about than me? is blood magic wrong?" the green eye boy asked clearly confused which made draco pause.
The other had zero clue that dark magic was banned by the ministry.
Taking pity on the other he sighed, " no but it's banned by the ministry they think its evil " he told him making the boy frown " I don't understand, how can it be evil if there healing spells in here" the boy asked.
" They don't see it like that" Draco wasn't sure how to answer.
" There are healing spells in that book" he asked after registering what the boy said, " yeah, though I haven't really read it yet, that's just from flipping through the pages" the raven shrugged.
Draco nodded, " well don't let anyone see you with that book or it's a one-way ticket to Azkaban" he said and had to resist the urge to sigh at the questioning look on the boy's face.
" Merlin balls you're a Muggle born you don't know what that is" Draco growled.
This time the boy scowled, " I don't like that word" he said tense. Harry was reminded of his anut Marge calling him a mixed mutt when he was younger and she would come over for the hoildays and get flat out drunk.
" What muggle born? that's what you are" Draco said.
" Draco!" a voice sounded behind both of them making them jump and turn to see a tall well dresses blonde man who stood in the arch way, Harry was sure this was Draco father judging by the Simler appearance and exact copy of each other.
" I told you not to wonder off" the man said voice hard.
" But I" Draco tried but the blonde man cut him off, Harry clutched the book to his chest now wary of the man, something about the man set him on edge.
" Yes father" Draco nodded deciding better not to argue.
" And who do we have here" the man's silver eyes turned to the messy boy with flowers in his hair and ears pierced, if Lucuis didn't know better, he would have thought Lovegood had another child.
" Someone's who leaving " the boy spoke deciding he didn't want to be here anymore, there was to many eyes on him, and he didn't trust the adults here other than SilverClaw.
Harry moved passed the man and to the front counter where the old shopkeeper was sitting on a stool, he wore purple robes and had a greasy smile, deciding to just buy the one book and leave, he paid the price, the man not bothering to ask questions.
When Harry turned, he was met with man watching him, " not many children wonder to this part of alley without a parent, it can be quite dangerous" the man voice was silk as he spoke.
" Can take care of myself just fine" Harry scowled as the man was blocking the door.
" And what child your age would have interest in blood magic for? it is a rather dark book " the man continued curious to who child this was and what parent let their child wonder alone in this area, or maybe the boy was a muggle born judging by his clothes, but something told him he wasn't and there was something familiar about the boy he couldn't put his finger on.
The boy glared up at him; his face half covered in a black mask.
" My interest are none of your concern" the boy growled as he went to move around the man only for a cane to block his way, " not so fast " Lucious stopped him. " You know this is really getting really creepy, a grown man stalking a kid " the boy said before raising his hand " excuse me" the blonde man was cut off as bowl of floo power on the fireplace mantle and ashes from inside the fireplace flew directly into Lucious face.
Harry took his chance and ran out the door while the man was coughing up a lung from the ashes and green powder. Lucious growled as he looked down at his clothes that were now ruined. " That brat" he scowled as he tried a cleaning spell, but floo powder was hard to come off and it made him even more irritated.
He didn't expect the brat to use wandless magic and was caught by surprise.
" Are you alright father?" Draco appeared from where he had left him, his eyes wide in shock as Lucious composed himself, " were leaving, your mother is waiting for us" he said knowing his wife was waiting for them at the restraught they had made reservation at for lunch.
Draco nodded and followed his father out the shop not commenting on the mess his father outfit was, the green powder sticking to his robes, " but first I need a change of clothes" he stuck his arm out so they could apparated to the manor.
He was going to be caught dead in these dirty robes.
When the walls started to have more life in them was when harry finally stopped running, the man didn't give chase which was good for him, he didn't think he could go up against a adult wizard who was older and more experienced and had proper schooling. Harry magic was all self-taught, from the books he had been reading there seemed to be so much he didn't know.
Some of the charms in his books he wanted to start practicing when he returned to his trunk, he needed to get a head start since he was so behind. He needed to become stronger, the last time he went head-to-head with cowboy, the other had somehow been able to stand his ground, and it had taken everything in him to survive. Honesty if not falling into that hole he wondered if he would have been able to get away.
Harry looked around the alley, there was still quite a few people bustling around, he placed the book in his bag making sure no one saw it. If what that boy draco was his name said was true, he didn't want to be caught with a dark book.
Deciding to explore the shops in this area instead of the dark alley, but that wasn't going to be the last time he went down there. he made his way to the candy store, maybe he could get away with shop lifting? just levitate the candy into his bag when no one was looking? as far as he could tell there were no cameras from what he could see, everything here looked to be from mid evil times.
Maybe he could do that with other stores, but first he was going to test it at the candy shop, he didn't know if there were spells to detect thieves, if he got caught maybe it would be a slap on the wrist.
The shop was full of children running around and a few parents lingering around, there was a group of girls gigging with a pink bottle in their hands, there was a boy walking pass him out the door with a big lollypop in his hands and an old lady with fur robes and bird hat right behind him.
" Neville use a napkin your hands are going to get your hands messy" the old lady snapped as the door closed.
Harry walked to the back, he was curious now, there the shelves were busting with all kinds of candies, there was a large chocolate fountain in the center of the shop with a floating dish of strawberries next to it, harry could see people sticking the strawberries under the chocolate. He might try that later; he glanced too the cash register who looked overwhelmed with a long line of people.
Making his way to the back where there were less people, he placed his bag on a shelf before going to the other side of the aisle, he glanced around making sure no one was looking, most of everyone was up front distracted with the fountain and it seemed the better candy was up front.
Anyone who was nearby was busy looking the other way, he raised his hand and started to levitate some chocolate frogs into the bag on the shelf, seeing that no noticed he continued to levitate a few Lolly pops and whatever looked interesting.
He would read the labels later.
" Watcha doing" a voice spoke in his ear causing him to flinch, he jumped and turned to come face to face with a pair of red head twins that had somehow snuck up on him. " nothing" he said quickly putting his hand down.
He wiggled his fingers, and the bag flew down and under the shelf hidden.
Geoge eyed the younger who he was sure just now shoplifting candy and doing it wandless, what caught his attention was the anti-theft alarms weren't going off, he and Fred had watched the kid levitate at least fifty pieces of candy into his bag.
They knew this store had anti thief charms because they themselves had tried to shoplift some of the prank products and candy but had failed when the charms would sound an alarm once put into a pocket or bag. this kid was able to somehow get pass the charms somehow.
" I won't tell anyone " Geoge started a grin appearing on his face, they didn't have the money to fund their little projects, and they didn't want to burden their parents more by asking for supplies for their hobbies.
" If you help us" Fred finish his sentence a matching grin on his face as the boy scowled at him, the boy must be a first year at least with how small he was, he definingly wasn't a pureblood judging by how he dressed, heck they were poor and they dressed better and were clean, he had a black mask covering the bottom of his face and his hair was a mess with flowers in it and clothes to big on him.
" You want me to shop lift for you? no way do it yourselves" the boy hissed stepping away but Fred blocked his way, " we would but you see, there just this very small tines problem" Fred started
" The anti-thief charms" Geoge finished making the boys eyes widen in shock.
" Fuck" the boy cursed.
" But somehow your able to get around that, how is that?" Fred asked curious, if they could get around the charm then they would be golden, there was so many possibilities and maybe it would help them in the long run.
" I don't know?" the boy just shrugged.
Geoge frowned in thought, " cold it be your using wandless magic and not a wand?" he asked in wonder, every time they had tried to steal they had used their wands.
" Like I said I don't know, I just levitate it and put it in my bag" the boy told them and in demonstration he flicked his finger and the bag appeared in his hands, he reached in and grabbed a piece of candy, Fred was behind him blocking anyone's view so there were no witnesses.
They held their breath hoping an alarm wouldn't sound, it didn't, they sighed in relief. " Holy cow" the twins grinned as Harry placed it back in the bag, " can you do that with anything" asked Fred excited.
" I guess so" the boy said.
" Okay, look over there, do you see that stack of fireworks?" Geoge pointed to the shelf full of fireworks, " that's risky, it's closer to the front" Harry said unsure. " What about the back? where they store everything?" he asked looking back to the twins.
" Maybe if it isn't charmed locked" Fred said in thought.
harry glanced around, there was still a line up front, he moved further back into the store looking for any doors there was none or so he thought until he spotted a curtain hanging on the wall, he could see the bottom of a door hidden behind the curtain, he smirked " bingo" he waved to the twins who were still by the shelf.
Who knew he be robbing a candy store with a pair of red headed twins. oh, if Donna could see him now, she would smack him silly.
Entering through the door lead to a storage room of sorts, it was large and dull of boxes and crates. " Merlin balls " Geroge stared in shock, all this time and they never once thought there was a hidden door behind the curtain.
" It leads behind the cash register" the boy said moving to the crates.
" We never introduced ourselves " Fred said making the boy look up curious
" I'm Fred Weasley and this is my brother in arms "
" Geoge Weasley " the other twin finished.
Harry nodded, " I'm Harry" he answered in return purpose not giving out his last name, if he was right then that would mean everyone knew his name, he was lucky his long hair hid his lightning bolt scar.
" Well Harry we will be in your dept if this goes according to plan" said Geoge already eyeing the stacks and stacks of fireworks on the other side of the storage room just sitting there for the taking.
" Well let's get moving before someone catches us" Harry said sitting his bag down in the middle of the floor, he was told it was bottomless so he should be able to fit a lot of stuff into it, he had ordinally planned just to steal the candy and leave
He raised his hand and levitated the fireworks into the bag, after that was more stuff, the twins pointed out like a stack of charmed cards to mor candy that were charmed to do different stuff like turn your skin different colors or make animals or train noises when eaten.
After a few minutes of digging through the stuff they made their way to the back and climbed out the window with their haul. Harry wondered if he could sell some of this to earn some income of sorts.
The three quickly walked a good distance away from the shop until they were a few blocks away, by now the crowds have thinned down as it was midafternoon now. " Holy shit I love magic" Harry grinned, he should feel bad he just robbed a shop, but he wasn't. With the crowd that was in there and if it was like that everyday then the owner then it wasn't too big of a lost for some items to go missing.
At least he hopes so.
Geroge laughed as Harry looked around the alley, he was getting kind of hungry now and it had been since morning since he had been here, he had pretty much explored the stores without buying besides that book and run in with the two blonde snobs.
It was also going to be nightfall soon, his heart froze, he had been having fun he hadn't realized how late it was getting, shit.
" Well, this was fun but I'm going to have to go now" he said as he looked to the sun that was slowly descending, it was going to take a at least thirty minutes to get back to the park and to his trunk.
He started to leave but the twins stopped him, " hey whoa Arnt you are forgetting something?" Fred asked making harry frown before it dawned on him, the stuff was still in his bag, and they still needed to sort it out.
" Oh yeah, you have anything to put it in?" he asked as the twins looked at him funny, " no we don't have a bottomless bag" Geroge shook his head, only their parents had them. They had one but it was at home, and it was only charmed big enough to hold their school supplies and books and that was it.
" Well, I have to go " Harry said, he didn't trust them enough with his bag, he didn't know if he could get another one.
" How do we know you will keep your end of the bargain" said Geoge as the boy scowled, " well where are we going to put it?" Harry asked.
it was then a loud voice caused them to jump
" Fred and Geoge Weasley where have you been I have been looking everywhere for you two" a plump red-haired woman appeared with a trail of red heads behind her. all boys minus one little girl who was holding her mother's hand and half hidden behind her.
Harry had to hold back a gasp, the woman looked too much like Donna, only Donna hair was longer, her face was rougher and more lines from stress and her accent was different, American, she had a country accent that Harry had always tried to imitate but couldn't get down. Her voice was harsher even when she tried to sound soft.
" Now what have you gotten into now" the woman continued stepping forward, " nothing we promise " Geroge said even though everyone knew he was lying but couldn't prove it.
Harry tried to slip away but found Geroge hand had wrapped around his arm and was holding him hostage, " we made a new friend, we wanted to know if he could spend the night" George smiled as Harry glared up at him.
This Mother fucker.
The red head womans eyes fell to him, now noticing him, " oh hello" she said sweetly, " oh dear, I don't know about that, are your parents all right with this" she asked while she looked around trying to find an adult that would be accompany a child.
She took in his clothes and appearance, it seemed he hadn't had a good meal in a while or shower.
Harry paled hearing this, he was screwed if they realized he didn't have parents and was an orphan, he didn't want to go to the orphanage no thank you, he was fine in his trunk where he had everything he needed.
" Um my parents are on an errand " he told her, "But that fine, I don't have to stay the night" he tried to say, " nonsense, we can wait until there back " the twins mother said kindly making harry groan internally.
" it's going to be a while" he said trying to back away.
That didn't seem to deter her, " well how bout we have dinner at the three broomsticks while wait and I'm Molly by the way" the woman smiled while ushering him back to the entrance and into the inn where they found a table to fit the entire family.
that was how harry found himself sitting next to a tall boy with red curly hair and horned glasses, Percy he learned his name was, the twins had tried to sit next to him but harry had sat between Percy and a red head that looked his age.
" I'm Ron by the way" the other introduced himself, Harry nodded but stayed quiet, thinking of a way to get away. " Why do you have flowers in your hair" asked Ron looking at the yellow and purple flowers he had braided into his hair this morning.
" Because I like them" Harry blinked, why else would he have them? he heard a laugh and looked to see another red head, this one older Charlie he thinks his name was, his hair was put up in a man bun.
" So, Harry are you a first year?" asked Molly after finishing ordering, Tom had glanced at him but said nothing which Harry was thankful for.
" Um yes" he answered looking to the door, it was starting to get dark now, he wondered if Hedwig has returned yet.
Molly looked to the boy, he looked uncomfortable and kept glancing around, she could tell he wanted to leave. she wondered if what he told them about his parents running an errand was true.
" what's is your parents' name? maybe I know them?" she asked making the boy pale. " You don't know them" he said shaking his head, " there muggle" he added thinking of Donna. It really wasn't a lie either.
" Oh" Molly nodded, it made sense to why he was wearing muggle clothes.
" I have to go to the bathroom" suddenly the boy shot up and left towards the hall without looking back.
" Well, he seems jumpy" Charlie commented just as the food was served,
" Yeah, like a scared rabbit" Bill took a sip of his drink and eyed the hall where the bathrooms lead to and also the rest of the inn. Something about the boy sent warning bells off, he didn't know what though, the story about his parents being away had to be a lie and the way the twins were on edge in their seat let him know they were up to no good or had already done something they shouldn't.
" Where did you say you met him?" asked their mother curious as the twins looked at each other " candy shop" they said together.
before anyone could respond tom spoke up " ahh it seems Mr. Potter is back so soon" the bald man said making the table go still at the name, Ron nearly choked on his mash potato as he stared at the man in shock
" What?" George looked to the bald man in confusion, that couldn't have been Potter. could it? didn't he just say his parents were muggles?
" You must be mistaken?" " Fred said as the man frowned, " he was in here the other day, saw the scar myself" tom said before leaving.
" Lily and James's boy?" Molly gasped shocked, she realized why he looked familiar to her, even with the black mask covering his face she would recognize them emerald eyes anywhere, though his were darker than lilies.
Minutes passed and Harry still hadn't returned, the twin finding an excuse to go check on the younger went to the restrooms along with Percy, told by their mother to keep the twins out of trouble.
The men's restroom was empty saved the open window and a letter stuck to the wall, Geroge grabbed it before Percy could see it, ' had to go, sorry.....find me at school and we can do business' Geroge red quickly before stuffing the letter in his pocket.
He was upset about not able to get there haul of goodies, but it was most likely better to wait until school started, at least at school they had more privacy, and their mother wasn't over their shoulder like at home.
" Where did he go?" Percy frowned in confusion, " must have had somewhere to be " Geoge shrugged while Fred gave him a look.
The three left the restroom and made their way back to the table, " he's gone" Percy said making Molly frown in worry. " What do mean he gone? " She asked " I don't know I think he left, he seemed like he didn't want to be here anyway" Percy told her.
He had noticed the boy looked ready to bolt.
It was dark when Harry made it back to his trunk which was thankfully still where he left it, Hedwig hooted from her spot on a tree branch before flying down and landing on his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek and pecked his hair. " Hey girl I know I'm late" he smiled while opening the trunk and climbed inside and closed it behind him, once down in the trunk he made sure to check for any threats but found none.
Once making sure the coast was clear, he made himself a quick dinner of soup and settled down into his armchair and opened his charms book, he would begin practally the cleaning charm, it seemed useful.
After that he would sort through the bag and see what was of interest, he was wary of the candy now, the twins had explained some of the candies effects and he wasn't familiar with the product to try it.
He would go through to see what he wanted and what he could sell for a profit, then the rest would go to the twins as promised.